Dale Castro

Dale Castro (born 1959) is an American former football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Maryland as a record-setting placekicker. He had originally intended to play college baseball, and joined the football team as a walk-on. He had a brief career in the Arena Football League, and then spent two decades coaching high school football.

Early life and college

Castro was born on November 26, 1959^[1] and grew up in Shady Side, Maryland. He attended the University of Maryland with the intention of earning a scholarship as a baseball pitcher, but contracted mononucleosis during his first semester which caused him to miss the try-outs. After he recuperated, Castro decided to try out for the football team as a walk-on placekicker, a position he had played in high school. During his sophomore year, he was offered a scholarship. He joined another Maryland walk-on that season who gained national recognition, Charlie Wysocki, who was the nation's rushing leader in 1979.^[2]

In 1979, Castro tied the NCAA record for most field goals in a half, with four against Mississippi State. In the fourth quarter of that game, he made a fifth field goal.^[2] He set a then-NCAA record when he made his first 16 field goal attempts. In total, he made 17 field goals during the season.^[3] Castro was named a consensus first-team All-American by the NCAA selectors: the Walter Camp Football Foundation, United Press International, Football Writers Association of America, and The Sporting News.^[4] He concluded his collegiate career in 1980, and as the end of 2008 season, he remains the school's fourth-ranked player in career punting yards (8,584), seventh-ranked in field goal percentage (69.2%), and tenth-ranked in career field goals (27).^[3]

Professional career

Drafted and then cut by the Dallas Cowboys after the 1981 pre-season, Castro had a tryout with the Seattle Seahawks in 1982.^[5][6] In 1983, he played for the Washington Federals in the United States Football League. He recorded three field goals on six attempts and two extra points on three attempts.^[7] He also played one season in the Arena Football League for the Washington Commandos in 1987.^[8] That season, he made 12 field goals on 21 attempts and 16 extra points on 31 attempts.^[1]

From 1981 to 1986, he served as an assistant coach at Southern High School in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.^[9] From 1987 to 1989, he was the offensive coordinator for DuVal High School in Prince George's County, Maryland.^[10] In 1990, Castro was hired as an assistant coach at High Point High School.^[11] He served as High Point's head football coach for the next 12 years,^[9] and also as its baseball coach.^[12] He resigned in 2001 in order to take some time off from coaching, but remained at his position in the school's guidance department.^[9]

In 2003, Castro left High Point to become the head football coach at Annapolis High School.^[13] He resigned after one season when he could not secure a full-time position as a guidance counselor at the school. Castro said, "I think the Annapolis High football program needs a coach who works in the building. The kids deserve a full-time coach."^[14] In 2009, he was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame.^[3] In 1997, he was inducted into the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame.^[15]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Dale Castro, ArenaFan Online, retrieved July 27, 2009.
2. ^ ^{a b} Kicking And Clawing In Maryland, Sports Illustrated, October 1, 1979.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Maryland Athletics Announces 2009 Hall of Fame Class, University of Maryland, May 29, 2009.
4. ^ "All-Time Honors", 2007 Maryland Football Media Guide, p. 160, University of Maryland, 2007.
5. ^ O'Malley, Pat (September 26, 1997). "5 to enter Arundel's Hall of Fame; Ceremony on Oct. 23 to honor Castro, Fowler, Hart, Shelton and Steele". The Baltimore Sun: p. 7D. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1997-09-26/sports/1997269104_1_field-hockey-coaches-wayne-fowler-castro. Retrieved March 29, 2010. 
6. ^ "Seahawks sign five free agents". Tri-City Herald. Associated Press (Kennewick, Washington: The McClatchy Company): p. 14. March 16, 1982. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ht8qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QIgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3195,4530401&dq=dale-castro+seattle-seahawks&hl=en. Retrieved March 29, 2010. 
7. ^ 1983 Statistics, United States Football League, retrieved July 27, 2009.
8. ^ Commandos' Castro a Kicker Of Many Feats; Shows Versatility in Practice, The Washington Post, July 15, 1987.
9. ^ ^{a b c} High Point's Castro Steps Down, The Washington Post, November 16, 2001.
10. ^ High Point Up Against Recent History, No. 1;Faces Quince Orchard for Md. 4A Title, The Washington Post, November 29, 1991.
11. ^ They're Taking Over Under the Gun; Knode, Adams, Castro Following in Footsteps Of Coaching Legends, The Washington Post, August 28, 1990.
12. ^ The Eagles Are Well-Fed, But Stay Hungry for a Title; High Point Earns Feast With Win Over Bowie, The Washington Post, May 23, 2005.
13. ^ Football: Castro begins tenure as Annapolis coach, The Capital, June 17, 2009.
14. ^ One, done for Castro with Annapolis football, Maryland Gazette, January 3, 2004.
15. ^ 1997, Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame, retrieved June 17, 2009.

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Name	Castro, Dale
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Date of birth	1959
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